Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:
- United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- Experience and/or Education: Experience: Six (6) months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or,
- Education: One (1) year above high school that included at least six (6) semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or,
- Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
- Certification: None.
- Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs.
- English Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technician (MSTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
Grade Determinations: GS-08
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Experience to the next lower grade includes: Detailed knowledge of complex surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Ability to assemble specialty operating room and clinic instrument sets. In-depth knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in order to convey information and thoughts to others.
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to read and interpret written procedures and select appropriate action in order to instruct staff in correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments.
2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to ensure staff compliance with written directives, rules and regulations.
3. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures.
5. Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments.
Preferred Experience:
- Two (2) years of experience as a Medical Supply Technician (MST), preferred.
- Knowledge and experience on management of instrumentation used in Operating Room & clinical settings; universal precautions; infection control measures; sterility & high-level disinfection principles; and reusable medical devices, preferred.
- Knowledge and experience on management of endoscopes reprocessing, preferred.
- VHA SPS Level 2 Training, preferred or Sterile Supply Certification, preferred.
References: VA Handbook 5005/76, Part II, Appendix G47 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard GS-0622 VHA.
The Lead MST at this level oversees a work team that includes at least one MST position that is above the full performance.
Selective Placement Factor: Must be proficient in spoken and written Spanish language.
Physical Requirements: The work is performed in various settings throughout the facility, to include but not limited to; decontamination, scope room, sterile storage, Prep & Packaging and clinical departments. The incumbent may be required to work in a multitude of temperature variants. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday, with frequent bending and lifting of instrumentation (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee will be asked to rotate between carefully controlled clean environments and the contaminated area of decontamination. The employee wears personal protective equipment, as appropriate for their area. This will include, but not limited to; hospital provided surgical attire, hair covers, beard covers, shoe covers and hospital dedicated shoes. The employee may be exposed to hazardous materials or loud noises within the department.